Tom Uddo, Contributor We enter the final week of the season, the AFC playoff scenario might look simple, but behind all of the division leaders and playoff clinchers, is four teams battling it out for one final spot. The Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens all have a chance on Sunday to grab the #6 seed in the AFC, but every team will be watching the scoreboard in hopes of another team losing. But lets start with the easy stuff first… #1 – (Y) Denver 12-3 #2 - (Y) New England 11-4 #3 – (Y) Cincinnati 10-5 #4 – (Y) Indianapolis 10-5 #5 - (X) Kansas City 11-4 #6 - Miami 8-7 In the hunt: Baltimore 8-7, San Diego 8-7, Pittsburgh 7-8 *Y Denotes team clinched division *X Denotes team clinched playoff berth Home-field advantage is still up for grabs in the AFC, but the Denver Broncos can snatch that up if they come away with a victory against the Oakland Raiders. If the Broncos manage to lose, the New England Patriots can claim the top spot in the conference with a win against the Buffalo Bills. The Pats are able to drop to the fourth spot in the AFC if they lose and both the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts win, which would pin each team at 11-5, with the Bengals holding the tiebreaker. The Bengals have the toughest test of all, matched up against the defending Super Bowl champions who are still in the hunt for the final playoff spot and will be putting it all on the line. The Colts need some help to clinch a first-round bye, but it is still possible. Indianapolis will need both the Bengals and the Patriots to lose and prevent an upset with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now this is where it gets a little tricky….the Miami Dolphins hold the last wildcard spot in the AFC, but they don’t control their own destiny. With a win, accompanied by a Baltimore Ravens loss, the Dolphins will clinch a trip to the playoffs. The Ravens will also be cfreaking scores, as they need either the Dolphins or San Diego Chargers to lose, including a win against their AFC North division rival, the Bengals, in order to find the playoffs. If both the Dolphins and Ravens win, the game to watch will be the Chargers against the Chiefs, as the Dolphins will be rooting for San Diego, while the Ravens hope that the Chiefs can come away with a victory, in turn, moving Baltimore into the playoffs. Stop me when it gets confusing. The Chargers still have a shot as well, with a win and a loss by both the Dolphins and Ravens, San Diego will sneak into postseason play. And behind all of this, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who started the season 0-4, are still alive. If Pittsburgh can beat the Cleveland Browns and hope that all of the remaining teams lose, the Steelers will miraculously make the playoffs as all of the teams would sit at 8-8 with Pittsburgh holding the tiebreaker. If all four teams win, the Dolphins hold the tiebreaker. The only team that can’t switch spots on Sunday is the Kansas City Chiefs, but their game against the Chargers has HUGE implications to the seeding. Now take a breath. Source: Continue reading...
